Born and Raised

 Does the success of our local industries rely on the poverty of their essential workers? This is the question I always return to as I learn more about the widespread housing, health, education, and income struggles of our regional farm workers. The fact is that we have been in a stalemated situation regarding worker welfare (and the lack thereof) in Wine Country for as long as I can remember. But now things are starting to open up as the labor movement gathers new steam nationwide. Recently, we have seen a series of headlines where farm workers and their allies are celebrating legal victories because they are, at long last, finding the strength to stand up and defend their rights. I recently spoke at one of these celebrations and was inspired to hear the workers there speaking of a new sense of bravery and willingness to bring their employers to negotiations -this time with skilled allies, legal aid, and the law itself at their side.  Support comes from, but is not limited to, The